Lawmakers ban laser-aiming at planes, limit drones

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BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers have agreed to prohibit both aiming a laser at an aircraft and using an unmanned aircraft over chemical plants.

The House gave final passage Tuesday to the measure by New Iberia Rep. Terry Landry with an 82-4 vote.

Intentionally shining a laser at a plane or in its flight path would carry a prison sentence of at least one year and up to five years for a first offense.

Senators amended Landry's bill to create the crime of flying a drone over petroleum and alumina refineries, chemical and rubber plants and nuclear power plants. Violation would carry a prison sentence of up to six months for a first offense.